040“What is it, Ash?” Drake asked as he walked towards me.I quickly switched off my phone. “It's nothing, Drake. Let’s… get back to where we were,” I said as I sent my finger running down his chest.At this point, his dick was already painfully hard again, veins pulsing like it had a mind of its own. The hunger in his eyes made my breath hitch. I reached for it, wrapping my fingers around its thick length, feeling the heat burn against my skin. With a smirk, I dragged him toward the bed."Get on," I commanded, but he didn’t resist. He let me take control—at least for a moment.Once we reached the bed, I shoved him down and straddled his lap. My fingers traced a slow, tantalizing path down his chest, making him groan. I watched his muscles tighten beneath my touch. Then, without breaking eye contact, I lowered myself onto his dick, inch by thick inch.A hiss escaped his lips as I seated him fully inside me. The stretch was delicious, intense, and it made my toes curl.I started slow—
041I stared at him, wondering why he was suddenly asking about my past. My heart raced, my palms damp with sweat. There’s no way I could mention Ryan to him. I couldn’t. Just the thought alone made my chest tighten with anxiety. I shifted a little from him on the bed, acting like I was scared of telling him anything. Maybe he’d back off if I looked uneasy.“My past… it’s…” I began, my voice faltering. “Drake, it’s not something I like talking about. It’s really painful. I can’t.”“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” he said gently, moving closer. “You can trust me.”His voice was low, soft, comforting. It made my heart ache. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes full of understanding. “Tell me your past, Ash. We’ve all gone through painful things in life, but you can share them with me. I mean, I’m your boyfriend.”I stared at him, tense, my body rigid. I didn’t know what to do at this point. I couldn’t risk the truth. Not now. I let out a deep breath and gulped, forc
042 “Ryan? I’ve never heard that name before. Thankless if I’ve ever met anybody named Ryan,” I stammered, my voice trembling. “Drake, what are you talking about?” He looked at me and shook his head as he laid beside me, chest rising and falling, jaw clenched so tight I could see the vein pulsing down his neck. “And you’re still lying, Ash,” he said, voice like ice. “How could you do this to me?” The words pierced like a knife. “Drake…” I shifted closer, reaching to hug him. “We—we just made love. How… how could I possibly lie to you after something that real?” He flinched at my touch like I’d burned him. “Save it, Ash.” Then he stood up from the bed and walked away. My heart pounded faster, my limbs shaking. I watched in silence as he walked across the room, bent down, and picked up his phone. My stomach dropped. He didn’t say a word. Just returned to the bed, face stone cold, and pressed play. The screen lit up. And then, my entire world shattered. It was me. Naked. Moa
043 I glared at her. I didn't have time for nonsense now. The court letter crumpled in my fist, veins pulsing in my neck. My chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath I took. Without saying another word to her, I bolted out of the hallway, feet pounding against the marble tiles as I raced toward the Door. “Drake! Please wait!” I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation, once I arrived at the door. But he didn’t. He didn't even turn his head. He slammed his door shut, and the engine roared to life. My heart sank as the tires screeched against the pavement, leaving me there in regret. I froze, then slowly placed a trembling hand on my forehead. My eyes blinked back the tears that stung. The ache in my chest spread like wildfire, scorching every corner of my body. “You’re in a mess, Ash,” I whispered bitterly to myself. Dragging my feet back into the house, I closed the door behind me and sank into my bed. The silence was deafening, but my thoughts were louder. How did it a
044My heart pounded in my chest as I heard the shrill sound of footsteps rushing towards the stairs. Panic spread like wildfire, but I kept my face a mask of pure innocence. I rushed to the ground floor standing besides Chloe just as the maids and my stepmother flooded into the hallway.“What's going on here?!” my stepmother demanded, her eyes flicking between me and Chloe's motionless body at the foot of the stairs. Her voice was high-pitched, frantic. “Ash, what happened to Chloe? Why is she lying there?”I didn’t miss a beat.“Oh my God! I—I was just in my room when I heard shouting,” I said, my voice shaky but controlled, putting on the perfect act. “I rushed to Chloe’s room and—”“Shouting? What are you talking about?” My stepmother cut me off, now furrowing her brow at me.“Yes, shouting. I heard it coming from her room,” I continued, my eyes widening as I painted the perfect picture. “When I went in to see what was going on, she was smashing her phone against the wall. I asked
045Turning my attention back to the beautiful scene unfolding before me, I smiled faintly. Let me put up an act, at least, so I don't look like a bad sister.I took a deep breath and walked toward them, letting my performance begin.“Doctor, what are you saying?!” I cried out suddenly, my voice cracking. “Tell me this isn’t true!”At this point, my eyes were red and glassy, shimmering with tears that hadn’t fully fallen. I turned to Mr. Collins like a frightened child.“Dad, what is he saying? Nothing is going to happen to my sister, right?”Mr. Collins pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand rubbing circles on my back.“Everything will be fine, honey,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”I clung to him, letting the hug linger just a second longer to make it feel real, burying my face in his chest. But then, without warning, my head jerked backward as fingers tangled into my hair and yanked me away from him.“What the—!”I turned quickly—only to see her. My stepmother. H
046*Ash’s POV*I stared at the screen for a long time, my fingers trembling over the phone. My heart thudded so loud I could barely hear myself think. I swallowed hard and finally answered.“What do you want from me, Clark?” I asked coldly, not even giving him the chance to speak first.His voice came through, smooth as ever but laced with venom. “Oh, I don’t need anything from you, Ash,” he replied, mockingly calm. “I just wanted to inform you… about your doom.”I froze.“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” he continued. “You played your game so perfectly—so damn perfectly—ruining the lives of two brothers. But now, it’s your turn. You’re going to pay, Ash. I’ll see you in court.”He paused. Then came the final dagger: “I can’t wait to see you in chains.”My mouth opened to respond, but the call ended.I stood frozen, the cold silence of the room wrapping around me like a noose. My hand went to my forehead, trembling.Drake. He must’ve told Clark something. No—he must’ve shown h
*Alora’s POV* —047I lay on my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The cursor on my laptop screen blinked mockingly, a silent reminder that the words I needed just wouldn’t come. Writer’s block had wrapped its cold fingers around my mind for hours now, and the silence of my room only made it worse.I sighed and shut the laptop with a soft click, rubbing my temples in frustration. That’s when I heard a knock on the door.Groaning quietly, I stood and shuffled over, barefoot on the cold floor. I pulled the door open—and froze.Charles stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the world. He wore black trousers and a white shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing a sculpted torso. His hair was styled differently today, slightly tousled in an effortlessly attractive way.“What brings you here, Charles?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.He smirked. “Well, isn’t it obvious?”I chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “No, it’s not obvious.”“Invite me in and m
062ALORA'S POVI picked up my phone from the bed—again. I needed to search for an AI expert, someone skilled enough to detect whether a video was fake or not.I kept scrolling, but most of the profiles I found lacked experience. Their bios made it obvious—they hadn’t been in the field long.I sighed and rubbed my forehead. All this stress, all because of a false allegation. But it was worth it if it meant proving my innocence.I continued searching until I stumbled upon one bio that caught my attention. The man wasn’t too young, but not old either—55 years of age with twelve years of experience. His name was Jeremy.A smile tugged at my lips. I quickly scrolled up to check how much he charged, and to my surprise, it wasn’t much.He looked perfect for the job. Even in his photo, he looked strict—like someone who couldn’t be easily bought.I copied his contact details and placed a call immediately. The first call rang out. Then the second. Still nothing.“I’ll try one more time,” I mut
ALORA'S POV061“Really?” I asked, stepping closer to him, my voice tight with disbelief.“Yes, really,” Mr. Grey replied, tapping a few keys on his laptop. “When I checked the footage again, I noticed it had been blurred using some kind of virus filter. But it’s not permanent—I can fix it. I can help you.”I stared at him. My heart jumped, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't afford to let hope ruin my focus.“Thank you,” I breathed. “Seriously, Mr. Grey, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Do you think you can get it done by tomorrow?”He hesitated for a second, then nodded confidently. “I’ll work through the night if I have to. You’ll have it by tomorrow. I promise.”I let out a slow breath, tension peeling off me like old skin. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “I’m counting on you.”“You should,” he said simply.Without another word, I turned and left the room. There was no time to lose. I needed to show Stanley the footage of Chloe pushing his mother. He deserved the
ALORA'S POV060"Uhm, I… I uhm, I'm…" I stammered, my voice faltering as a knot formed in my throat. I had no idea what to say to the stern man staring at me. But then it struck me—everyone believed I was Mr. Stanley’s wife now. If I played that role convincingly, and backed it with the photos I’d collected, there was no way he wouldn’t believe me.Straightening my shoulders, I forced the trembling out of my voice. “I’m… I’m Mrs. Stanley. Mr. Stanley’s wife. And you must be Mr. Grey.”He stared at me, his lips tightening. “Women like you disgust me,” he snapped without hesitation.My breath caught in my chest. Had I heard that right? “Did you just say I disgust you?” I asked, stunned.He didn’t even blink. “You claim to be his wife, yet you go around cheating on him. Yeah, I saw the whole thing.”“Mr. Grey, please,” I pleaded quickly, pushing down the wave of anger and shame rising in me. “I need your help. This is about my dignity—”“Dignity?” he barked out a dry laugh. “What dignity
059ALORA'S POV I had been waiting in my room for the past two hours, ever since the chaos that had unfolded downstairs. My heart was still racing from what had happened, but I needed everything to settle. Everyone had to be asleep before I could make my move. Silence was my ally tonight. Charles thought he was clever—thought he could twist things and make it look like I was lying. But he didn’t know who he was messing with. I was going to show him what smart really looked like. By now, the house had gone quiet. Lights were out in most rooms, and the occasional creak of settling wood was all that could be heard. That was my cue. I stood from my bed, my bare feet making no sound as I slipped out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway. My destination was clear: the CCTV room. That room held the truth—hard evidence of what happened that day. If I was going to expose Charles, I needed the footage. I had heard an old man named Grey was usually stationed there, but rumor had it he w
058 STANLEY'S POV After my mom had passed, Chloe and I were headed back home. It was already late at this point. I was driving. And just then, my phone began buzzing through the call. When I looked at the name on the screen, I saw that it was Alora, and I ended the call instantly. I didn't want anything to do with her. Not now. Especially now that my mother had passed away. I needed to find myself. Alora had betrayed me in the worst way ever. So I thought. After a while, I arrived home. I parked the car in the parking lot, and Chloe and I got out from the car. We both walked into the house and just as, we did. I saw Alora sitting on the couch in the parlor. I wanted to ignore her at first. But when she spotted me, she stood up and walked towards where I was. I wanted passing her, but then she blocked me. She didn't allow me to pass. "I don't have time for your nonsense, Alora. I have a lot of things way more important than the act you're putting up here right now. Let me pass
STANLEY'S POV 057I gripped her hand tightly, nodding through my uncontrollable sobs."I promise you, Mom. I promise you I won't leave Alora," I said, my voice breaking with emotion.Just as the words left my mouth, she smiled warmly at me. A smile so weak, yet so full of love."Thank you, Stanley," she whispered. "I'm glad... I know you keep to your promises."But suddenly, the machine tracking her heartbeat began to beep faster, shrill and frantic. My mom gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly as tears streamed from her closed eyes.Panic exploded inside me."Doctor! Doctor!" I screamed at the top of my lungs."Mom, hold on! I'm coming!"I sprinted out of the ward, my heart pounding in terror. I saw the doctor rushing towards me, alarmed by my cries."Something's happening! My mom — the machine — please hurry!" I stammered desperately.Without wasting a second, the doctor dashed into the room with me close behind.But it was too late.The moment we entered, my legs
ASH'S POV056The courtroom felt like it had frozen in time. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I stood, my hands trembling, as I stood there waiting for the words of the judge, the final verdict." innocent and Mrs. Ash Collins guilty."I staggered back, my breath catching in my throat. No… this can’t be... The verdict echoed again and again in my ears, each replay slicing deeper into my soul. Across the room, Ryan jumped to his feet, unable to contain his joy. He laughed, arms raised triumphantly in the air, while the crowd erupted into wild cheers. Even the jury wore smiles of satisfaction.But for me... the world tilted dangerously.I stood there, frozen, the weight of the moment crushing me. Then, the judge’s voice thundered once more."Mrs. Ash Collins, the court sentences you to five years in prison… followed by execution by shock upon release."The words struck like lightning.Execution?My eyes widened in horror. I must have misheard him. No, no, this isn’t real!Before
ASH'S POV055My eyes widened in shock, heart lurching against my ribs, as Drake stumbled into the courtroom.He looked like a ghost: pale, bloodied, limping heavily, his clothes torn as if he had clawed his way back from death itself.How?The question screamed through my mind.How is he here?It wasn’t just me — the entire courtroom had frozen, every head turning toward him, every breath drawn taut with disbelief.Drake’s voice rang out, raw and desperate."I have proof, my lord!" he cried, staggering closer. "Do not pass the verdict yet! You must see what I have to show!"My stomach twisted violently.Panic clawed at my throat.Across the courtroom, my lawyer glanced back at me, searching my face for guidance.I gave him a slow, deliberate wink.He would understand: stall him. Crush him.Immediately, my lawyer straightened and addressed the judge."My lord," he said, voice smooth and authoritative, "there is no need for further delays. The facts are clear. Ryan Hemsworth is guilty.
STANLEY'S POV054 The party was alive, humming with laughter and the low thrum of music vibrating through the floor. Glasses clinked, voices overlapped in a warm, chaotic symphony, and from a distance, the lights bathed everything in a golden, almost dreamlike glow. To everyone else, it was perfect. But to me, it was a carefully staged lie, and I was barely holding it together. I wove through the crowd, nodding politely, my heart pounding harder with every step. I had made sure Chloe didn’t know the party had been moved earlier — the last thing I needed was unnecessary drama tonight. This moment had to be flawless. For my mother. For the story we had crafted. I pushed my way toward the stage, searching for her face among the sea of guests. She should have been here by now, front and center, smiling proudly. But she wasn’t. Panic prickled at the edge of my mind. Where was she? Without her, all of this — the fake wedding, the fake smiles — meant nothing. I stared at my watch. Time w